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Monday, April 13, 2015

Good Textless Dummy Book Tells Story : Check Dummy!

Author Matt ZurboEditor Helen Chamberlin and Mentor Ann James say, "We love the submitted illustrations!" Very good feedback makes me so happy. Our team is working on layout and book designing. Soon, I'll check "binded" images called, "proofs" from Windy Hollow publisher. Very exciting. What sort of book will come up? Illustration must tell a story and be narrative. Btw, here's a simple test to check if your organised images are successful or not as a real picture book. Show others a wordless dummy book and ask them to create a story. If a dummy is successful, others can tell your expected story. If not, examine where readers cannot get a message. That's a fun experiment.
I asked a family to have a look of my textless dummy and to make up a story (Gulp. Huge pressure! Phtew, heart attack!?). Our target aged girl "carefully" looked at the small book and correctly told the story. Her understanding was quite close to the real text! It was interesting to observe the family, although a mother and an older sibling did not care for the tiny dummy seriously. My mentor and I celebrated our achievement. She says, "The resulting book will be a strong melding of text and visual narrative and marks the beginning of Sadami’s career as a picture book illustrator - your long-held dream." The submitted illustration tells a story well. It means that the art work does not need big changes. "Moon" has a short text like a poem that consists of very selected words. I greatly thank for Matt's beautiful writing. The very evocative text has stimulated my imagination. Now, I enjoy this experiment and check people's responses. I love young children's imagination and admire it. 

In a picture book, if illustration works properly, kids effortlessly get a plot even only by pictures without a word. Images weigh heavily "picture" books. I've been looking at my dummies from time to time. What's a dummy? It's a small and mock-up book made by an illustrator to check information flow, composition, balance and so ons. I've already made several dummies at each stage of the project --- in black & white and colour. Once, I wrote about it, "New Storyboard & Creating Dummy Books!" Although an illustrator decides the position of a text in a real book size dummy, I love a textless tiny dummy. It sits on my palm. Can you see it in the photo? This is the real size.
Behind my hand, what you see there, are all dummies and story boards, my babies. What size/sort of dummy do you like? I love a replica. My favorite is just a palm size like. These dummies have so much intrigued Marrickville Council staff. You can enjoy them at my solo exhibition in Chrissie Cotter Gallery (map) from 20th Oct to 2nd Nov 2015. Big names are guests. Mentor Ann, Editor Helen, Libby Gleeson AM (our book launcher) and other top notches are coming. Yes, you can see super stars, too!   
Do you like wordless picture books? I love them all. To some extent, a wordless picture book is a very subtle genre in children picture books. Mentor Ann James has often brought me good wordless picture books from all over the world. I've been closely studying about them for these years. A wordless picture book fascinates me most, because technically, it's the most required and refined. An illustrator's drawing skills are really stunning. Often I come across very wise and remarkable wordless picture books. For example, Anno Mitsumasa is my favorite wordless picture book illustrator. His very sensitive, beautiful, humorous and witty pictures capture readers from young and old. Also, a very well organised story never bores readers, shows a drama and leads to an end. Anyone can understand wordless picture books. It can also become very powerful to send a universal message. Picture books are certainly brilliant and sophisticated literature.  
I hope our Moon publishing team will smoothly move onto a next stage along a schedule, publication is set in August. Already I've been working on roughs for a "new project" under the supervision of Ann. I'll enjoy ( or "suffer"?!) illustration! Yes, we, picture book industry people are perfectionists to create quality picture books for children and any readers. A big name said to me, "You'll suffer and suffer (in illustration)! After that, you think you will never do it again. And... you will be addicted to it!" Ahahahaha, true, so true. Nothing different from delivering a baby. That's our joy. I really appreciate our team, experienced illustrators and famous authors great and warm support. Moon is nearly ready. 
Wow, really amazing. Step by step, our picture book is being created...! Thank you for encouragements for nearly 3 years to come to this stage. How lovely to finally see my work all the way through a book! When a publishing date comes up, I'll certainly inform you. 
Friends, Happy Painting! 
*The first image is a colour rough that explored techniques as well as composition. These are the study of a whale. "Moon" shows the beauty of nature, too. Many black and white and colour roughs were developed to create final images. 





















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19 comments:

  1. Creating picture books for children must be a really difficult task. Sounds a really scientific process. Keep inspiring us.

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    1. Yes, AK, if you like, you can try picture book illustration. I'll keep it up. Cheers, Sadami

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  2. Congratulations, Sadami...so glad your "focus group" (the child) got the story! The paintings are (as always) just beautiful

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    1. Thank you, Celeste! Very positive feedback to my dummy. I will more enjoy watercolour in illustration. Cheers, Sadami

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  3. Fantásticos dibujos e ilustraciones. ¡Será genial ese libro!
    Un abrazo, Sadami.

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    1. Gracias, Onera! Realmente espero que pega ilustraciones. Salud, Sadami
      Thank you, Onera! I really look forward to binded illustrations. Cheers, Sadami

      >>> Onera said...
      Fantastic drawings and illustrations. This book is great!
      A hug, Sadami.

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  4. It'' a fascinating post and lovely to hear about the feedback of your little dummy book.You are a child at heart :)

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    1. Ohhh, sweet Polly, thank you! Yes, that's what my mentor says that I have a same view like a kid. It is my most strength. Cheers, Sadami

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  5. So interesting to read about its journey, and exciting to see your book coming to fruition. I wish I'd been able to read about this years ago when I tried children's book illustration - and that one or two publishers here could have read this too! Love your beautiful illustrations.

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    1. Thank u, Cathy! I look forward to your picture book. Actually, it was my idea to test a textless dummy. When I reported Ann a good result, she happily explained it in detail. Experienced editors and good supervisors are crucial especially, for a novis illustrator. Cheers, Sadami

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  6. Hola Sadami. Estoy de acuerdo, para un pintor-dibujante que crear una historia a base de dibujos sin textos, es un arte difícil y si se consigue, un gran éxito. Pero creo que el éxito es para el dibujante.
    Para un niño, pienso que un poco de texto es necesario. Si no, se vuelven perezosos y se acostumbran a que se les dé todo hecho. Pasa con la televisión.
    Un poco de esfuerzo es necesario. Así que hay que ser buen dibujante y buen comunicador con textos.
    Mi querida Sadami, digo lo que pienso.
    Tal vez no he sabido interpretar bien tu mensaje?
    Un fuerte abrazo.

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    1. ¡ Gracias Joshemari! Sin diálogo libros ilustrados son arte muy sofisticado. Técnicamente, se requiere muy buenas habilidades. En libros ilustrados sin palabras, nosotros, ilustradores gastan más energía y las técnicas que un libro de imágenes con un texto. Por favor, Imagínese, no puedes confiar en un texto. Sus imágenes deben contar todas las cosas en la historia. Si tienes un momento, por favor busque "Llegada" ilustrado por Shaun Tan. ¿Qué mensaje ¿encuentras en ese libro de fotografía? Ese libro del cuadro es una muy famosa "novela gráfica". Por favor google lo. También está disponible en España. Puedes encontrarlo en tiendas de libros. Entonces, después de leer "Llegada", vuelve a mí. La mayoría de los lectores son "adultos" para esa novela gráfica.
      Lenguaje escrito o un texto es una parte de los métodos para transmitir un mensaje. También, las imágenes visuales.
      Aunque la televisión es otro tema, también puede hacer los espectadores pasivos o creativo. Es, de hecho, hasta un director de programa que hacen una especie de programas. ¿Cómo llevamos a los espectadores o lectores es objetivo de nuestro trabajo y hasta los pensamientos creadores o directores. Espero que mi forma de escribir tiene sentido.
      Gracias por los comentarios positivos para una ballena.
      Un cordial saludo, Sadami

      Thank you, Joshemari! Textless picture books are very sophisticated art. Technically, it requires very good skills. In wordless picture books, we, illustrators spend more energy and techniques than a picture book with a text. Please imagine, you cannot rely on a text. Your images must tell all the stuff in the story. If you have a time, please look up "Arrival" illustrated by Shaun Tan. What message do you find in that picture book? That picture book is a very famous "graphic novel." Please google it. It is also availble in Spain. You can find it at book shops. Then, after reading "Arrival," come back to me. Most of readers are "adults" for that graphic novel.
      Written language or a text is a part of methods to convey a message. Visual images, too.
      Although television is another topic, it can also make viewers passive or creative. It is, in fact, up to a program director what sort of programs make. How we lead viewers or readers is our work's goal and up to creators or directors' thinking. I hope my writing makes sense.
      Thank you for the positive feedback for a whale.
      Kind regards, Sadami

      >>> Joshemari said...
      Hello Sadami. I agree, for a pintor-dibujante to create a story based on drawings without texts, it is a difficult art and if you get a big hit. But I believe that success is for the artist.
      For a child, I think a bit of text is necessary. If not, they become lazy and become accustomed to giving them all made. Happens with television.
      A little effort is necessary. So you have to be good drawer and good Communicator with texts.
      My dear Sadami, say what I think.
      Perhaps I failed to interpret your message well?
      A big hug.
      Ah, I had forgotten... that whale jumping out of the water is great! The colors very well. Congratulations!

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  7. Ah, me había olvidado... esa ballena que salta del agua es GENIAL!!! Los colores muy bien. Felicidades!

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  8. What beautiful illustrations. Good luck with your publication.

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    1. Thank you, Carol. I'm just doing my best. It's a group work. Cheers, Sadami

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  9. I have a surprise for you Sadami in my blog! :) Please make a visit!
    http://catharinaengberg.blogspot.se/2015/04/my-dear-blogfriend-antonia-del-olmo.html

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    1. Wow, really a big surprise! I did research on how to do it and I've been working on 10 bloggers right now and a post. Thank you so much!! Cheers, Sadami

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  10. Yes, Sadami, you really are a child at heart, Polly is right! Great feedback from the little girl!

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    1. Thank you, sweet Judy! I can see the world from a children's view. Well, the little girl's understanding of my dummy was truly a surprise and joy. Cheers, Sadami

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